Global Sport

Ranatunga travelled to Toronto for an exhibition match last weekend, but he had not informed the board or team management of his plans and he did not play, cricket officials said.

Ranatunga did not attend a practice session on Wednesday and was unavailable for comment.

Two Lillees gear up to face Pakistan

PERTH: Pakistan’s batsmen will have to grapple with an attack including fast bowling legend Dennis Lillee and his speedster son when they open their Australian tour in October.

Lillee, 50, and son Adam, 25, will team up for the first time when they play for an Australian Cricket Board Chairman’s XI in a One-day tour-launching festival match against the tourists on October 26.

It is likely to be the farewell appearance by Lillee, a 355 Test wicket veteran.

Manchester,Leeds United ahead

LONDON: Manchester United, Leeds United and Aston Villa registered easy victories in the English Premiership on Wednesday.

Villa’s 3-0 win over Everton was their second successive three-pointer and moved them top of the table with two games gone, above the only other 100 per cent side Arsenal on goal difference.

United were troubled even less by Sheffield Wednesday at Old Trafford, winning 4-0.

United a corporate monster: Sir Alex

MANCHESTER: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson claims the English Premiership club has grown into a corporate monster since becoming a public limited company.

In his new autobiography Managing My Life, the United boss claims he has been repeatedly frustrated in his dealings with the PLC throughout the 1990s and but for the board’s rigid salary ceiling the treble winners could have been a force in Europe much sooner.

Rivaldo not willing to leave Barcelona

BARCELONA: Brazilian ace Rivaldo has said he would not be acceptingEnglish Premiership side Manchester United’s offer to leave Spanish side Barcelona.United manager Sir Alex Fergusson on Tuesday said he would love to buy the Brazilian mid-fielder, whom he called “one of the best players in the world” but the fee and his wages would be prohibitive.

But Rivaldo said he was happy with Barcelona and did not want to leave the Spanish side.

South Africa lose two top athletes

JOHANNESBURG: The South African athletics team will be without top distance runners Elana Meyer and Gwen Griffiths for the IAAF World Athletics Championships.

Meyer, entered for the 10,000m, was given clearance by Athletics South Africa (ASA) so she can focus on the World Half Marathon Championships in Italy next month, while Griffiths has been forced to withdraw from the marathon with a calf injury.

Cuba claims there were 13 deserters

HAVANA: Thirteen Cubans deserted at the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada, compared to the eight desertions previously reported, SportsInstitute of Cuba president Humberto Rodriguez has said.

Of the 840-strong delegation, 11 athletes, one trainer and one journalist deserted in Canada, Rodriguez said on a television program, adding that none of the athletes were star players.

Usually, discussion of desertions is kept out of Cuba’s mass media, especially those controlled by the government.

Davis Cup semi-final tickets sold out

BRISBANE: Around 6,000 remaining tickets for next month’s Davis Cup tennis semi-final between Australia and Russia sold out in under an hour.Tickets for the September 24-26 semi-final tie at the Anzstadium, home of the Brisbane Broncos rugby league team, were exhausted in 48 minutes, organisers said.

Hewitt seeks help for injured foot

ADELAIDE: australia’s rising tennis star Lleyton Hewitt is seeking help in his rehabilitation from an injured left ankle.

The 18-year-old Hewitt tore ligaments in the ankle while playing in a semi-final of the Los Angeles Open against Andre Agassi 12 days ago andreturned to his Adelaide home to recuperate.

Hewitt went to Melbourne to seek help from Australia’s Davis Cup physiotherapist Andrea Bizas.

Hampshire pursue Shane Warne

LONDON: English county Hampshire have held talks with Australian spin wizard Shane Warne over a possible move to England next season.

Warne, widely regarded as the best leg-spinner in the world, is being lined up as a replacement for West Indies pace bowler Nixon McLean

likely Irvine wants to be Ferrari’s No 1

ROME: Eddie Irvine issued his bluntest warning yet that he will quit Ferrari unless he is treated on a level footing with Michael Schumacher next season.With Schumacher injured, the Ulsterman has revelled in his new-found status as Ferrari’s top dog, winning the last two Formula One Grand Prix to put him eight points clear of reigning champion Mika Hakkinen with six legs of the 1999 campaign remaining.

But when asked by Italian magazine Famiglia Cristiana if he was staying at Ferrari the 33-year-old answered:“That depends. If Schumacher doesn’t return as No 1, I’ll stay. If on his return he is once again first driver, I’ll leave.”

— Agencies